Bill O'Brien denies Case Keenum's anecdote about Texans coach

In his autobiography, “Playing for More: Trust Beyond What You Can See,” Case Keenum shares a story about Texans coach Bill O’Brien from 2014.

“Coach O’Brien looked right at me and told me I’d never be more than third-string quarterback,” Keenum says on page 113 of his book.

Did that actually happen?

“No,’’ O’Brien said during a conference call with Denver reporters Tuesday, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. “I will just tell you that I have a great amount of respect for Case as a player and a person. I think he’s a hell of a quarterback, and as a head football coach in the NFL, there are times that decisions are made that may be perceived in a certain way.

“In all my years of coaching, I have never said anything like that to any player. I feel bad that whatever he thinks was said, was said, but at the end of the day, I have a ton of respect for him.

“I think he’s deserved everything he’s gotten. He came in here at the end of 2014 and won two games for us. I have a great amount of respect for Case Keenum.”

Regardless of what was actually said, Keenum doesn’t seem to feel he was appreciated during the end of his tenure in Houston. He will get a chance to prove O’Brien wrong when the Broncos host the Texans on Sunday.